Respiratory face mask and breathing circuit assembly

Abstract

A respiratory face mask is provided suitably sized and configured to engage at least the nose portion and mouth portion of a patient's face. Gas from a gas supply and scavenging set normally used in dentistry is operatively coupled to the mask via a breathing circuit to supply fresh gas and evacuate exhaled waste gas. A gas flow compensator in the breathing circuit automatically prevents re-breathing of exhaled gas. Because the mask has a sealing cushion, contamination of the clinical room where the apparatus is being used also is avoided.

1 . Apparatus for administering gas to a person in a clinical environment, comprising:
 a face mask, said face mask being suitably sized and configured to engage at least the nose portion and mouth portion of said person's face, said face mask further including a mask body and a sealing cushion adapted to be interposed between said mask body and said at least nose portion and said at least mouth portion of said person's face when said face mask engages said person's face,   a breathing circuit adapted to be operatively coupled to said face mask for delivering fresh gas to said mask body and for scavenging exhaled gas received from said mask body when said face mask engages said person's face,   wherein said breathing circuit includes means for automatically preventing gas exhaled into said breathing circuit from being re-breathed by said person.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in combination with a device for supplying fresh gas to said mask body and for scavenging exhaled gas received from said mask body. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said supplied gas is nitrous oxide. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said supplied gas is nitrous oxide, or oxygen, or mixtures of same. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said face mask includes a further portion for engaging the underside of the person's chin when said face mask engages the person's face and said sealing cushion includes a further portion interposed between said person's chin and said mask body when said face mask engages said person's face. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said face mask and said breathing circuit are disposable. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said breathing circuit includes a first tube adapted to receive exhaled gas from said mask body and a gas reservoir attached to said tube and in communication therewith,
 said breathing circuit further including a second tube adapted to supply fresh gas to said mask body,   wherein said means for automatically preventing gas exhaled into said breathing circuit from being re-breathed by said person comprises a portion of said breathing circuit having a first end and a second end,   said first end of said portion being adapted to be coupled to said gas reservoir, and said second end of said portion being adapted to be operatively coupled to said device for supplying fresh gas to said mask body and for scavenging exhaled gas received from said mask body.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said gas reservoir is a flexible collapsible bag. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said portion of said breathing circuit having a first end and a second end comprises a first outer tube having a first diameter and a second inner tube having a second diameter, said first diameter being greater than said second diameter. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said second inner tube is a nozzle coaxially supported within said first outer tube and said nozzle has a first end and an opposed second end, said opposed second end of said nozzle being coupled to a vacuum tube, said vacuum tube being adapted to be operatively coupled to said device for supplying fresh gas to said mask body and for scavenging exhaled gas received from said mask body, and wherein said first end of said nozzle is adapted to be in communication with said gas reservoir through said first end of said portion of said breathing circuit having a first end and a second end. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said device for supplying fresh gas to said mask body and for scavenging exhaled gas received from said mask body is a dental set normally used in the practice of dentistry. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said device for supplying fresh gas to said mask body and for scavenging exhaled gas received from said mask body is a dental set normally used in the practice of dentistry, said device further including a wall-mounted outlet for a vacuum line. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said breathing circuit includes a first tube adapted to receive exhaled gas from said mask body and a gas reservoir attached to said tube and in communication therewith,
 said breathing circuit further including a second tube adapted to supply fresh gas to said mask body,   said means for automatically preventing gas exhaled into said breathing circuit from being re-breathed by said person comprising a tube having a first end and a second end,   said first end of said tube being operatively coupled to said gas reservoir, and said second end of said tube adapted to be operatively coupled to a source of negative pressure and wherein said tube comprises a first outer tube having a first diameter and a second inner tube having a second diameter, said first diameter being greater than said second diameter,   wherein said second inner tube defines a nozzle coaxially supported within said first outer tube and said nozzle has a first end and an opposed second end, said opposed second end of said nozzle being adapted to be operatively coupled to said source of negative pressure, and wherein   said first end of said nozzle is adapted to be in communication with said gas reservoir through said first end of said tube.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  in combination with a device for supplying fresh gas to said mask body and for scavenging exhaled gas received from said mask body and wherein said device is a dental set normally used in the practice of dentistry, said device further including a controllable supply source of fresh gas, and wherein said second tube for supplying fresh gas to said mask body is adapted to be connected to said controllable supply source of fresh gas. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said mask body includes an inlet port and said breathing circuit includes a Y-connector, said Y-connector having at least first and a second branches, said at least first branch of said Y-connector being adapted to be operatively coupled to said mask body inlet port, said at least second branch being adapted to be operatively coupled to said second branch of said Y-connector being adapted to be operatively coupled to said second tube for supplying fresh gas to said mask body. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said Y-connector further includes a third branch, said third branch adapted to be operatively coupled to said first tube for receiving exhaled gas from said mask body and for delivering said exhaled gas to said gas reservoir attached to said tube and in communication therewith. 
   
   
       17 . The method of administering sedation anesthesia to a patient comprising the following steps:
 a. providing a respiratory face mask having a donut-shaped peripheral sealing cushion;   b. fitting said face mask to the face of a patient such that said face mask sealing cushion extends underneath the patient's chin and engages the nose portion and mouth portion of the patient's face;   c. providing a breathing circuit including means for automatically preventing re-breathing of exhaled gas by said patient;   d. attaching said breathing circuit to said face mask; and   e. applying at least one anesthesia gas to said patient via said fitted face mask through said breathing circuit.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein step (e) comprises the further step of supplying at least one anesthesia gas comprises supplying a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen.